Road conditions are expected to get worse as icy roads add to the growing debris in the Wichita area.
The National Weather Service in Wichita is warning drivers to stay home and the Wichita Police Department has released an emergency incident reporting program that allows people involved in non-injury accidents where their vehicles are still running to exchange information and report the incident later. branch.
“If you can stay home, we recommend you do so,” WPD said in a Facebook post. “If you must go out, please allow extra time and distance to ensure you arrive safely. Please be aware of emergency responders as They will also attempt to respond to your service request based on weather and road conditions.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office also operates an emergency incident reporting program for wrecks in the county.
Freezing drizzle began in Wichita around 7 a.m. Saturday morning.
“We cannot stress this enough, law enforcement is responding to many, many incidents in the Wichita metro area, please stay home!” Wichita’s NWS said on social media at 9:14 a.m.
The NWS also shared a video of an 18-wheeler running amok on I-135 in Wichita.
Wichita is expecting wintry weather throughout Saturday and Sunday. One-tenth to a quarter of an inch of ice is expected in Wichita.
Snow is expected to turn to snow around 9 a.m. Sunday. Between two and six inches of snow are expected in Wichita. Salina is expected to receive 9 to 16 inches of rainfall.
As of noon Saturday, road conditions showed most highways across the state had been affected by winter weather. The Kansas Department of Transportation says it won’t be able to prepare roads ahead of the storm in the Wichita area because rain is in the forecast, which would wash away treated roads.
But it’s not just the highways that are causing problems. A tanker truck driver suffered minor injuries after crashing into a bridge on MacArthur Road near South 343rd Street West, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office said at 11:40 a.m.
The tanker truck crashed Saturday morning in rural Sedgwick County, leaving the driver with minor injuries.
Wind chill levels are expected to be below freezing in the Wichita area on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.
Drivers in Wichita who are involved in an EARP-eligible accident can exchange messages and then report the incident to a police station Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The following is the substation:
Patrol West, 661 N. Elder
South Patrol, 211 E. Pawnee
Patrol East, 350 S, Edgemoor
Patrol North, 3015 E. 21st St
For non-injury and drivable wrecks within the county (which fall under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Office), please exchange messages and call the Sheriff’s Office: 316-660-3760 Arrange for submission of report.
A winter storm is possible in Wichita this weekend. Here’s how to avoid freezing pipes
